Inokashira Pond井の頭池

Focal point of one of Tokyo's most beloved parks

A short train trip away from Shibuya or Shinjuku, and a pleasant walk to or from the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Kichijoji's Inokashira Park is one of Tokyo's most popular spots among locals and visitors alike.

But it is the park's lake, namely Inokashira Pond, that commands your attention. Rent a boat⏤rowboat, paddle boat, or swan boat⏤out on the pond, cozy up with the native birdlife and enjoy picture-perfect plant life that changes with the seasons. While your surroundings are romantic, beware of a local legend. Jealous goddess Benzaiten is said to curse couples who ride the boats on Inokashira Pond, causing them to soon break up afterward.